Self-playing musical instrument.



L. B. DOMAN.

SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENY. APPLLCATIONI mm JULY 21. nus.

1 ,269,4:O6 Patented June 11, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- 11v VEN TOR.

L. B. DOMANQ SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21.19r3.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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Wztnesses:

Mhiivcnioh fliiorney.

L. B. DOMAN.

SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FI LED JULYZI. 1913.

1,269,406. Patented June 11, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W 'in es' rwerzi-or:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS B. DOMAN, OF EAST SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMPHION PIANO PLAYER COMPANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SELF-PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J line 11, 1918'.

' lowing, taken in connection with the companying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in self-playing musical instruments and refers more particularly to expressioncontrolling or tone-modifying apparatus, involving the use of a system of resistance pneumatics arranged to oppose individually, or in combinations of two or more, the action of a tension regulator or governing pneumatic in a manner somewhat similar to that shown in my Patent No. 1,075,- 313, Oct. 7, 1913, except that the main object of my present invention is to provide for a wider range of expression or variations in tonevolume or force than has heretofore been practised with a relatively small number of resistance devices.

In other words, I have sought to provide a simple and practicable tone-modifying unit capable of being installed in a small compact space in any self-playing musical instrument, whereby the tone-volume or force of expression of any selected part of a musical composition may be progressively increased Or diminished through the several standard divisions of pianissinio (pp), piano (79), mezzo-forte forte (f) or fortissimo (f), individually or collectively or through any combinations of such divisions.

Another object is to produce arelatively large number of changes of force or air tension in the player action through the medium of various combinations of a relatively small number of resistance pneumatics as controlled by a correspondingly small number of lines of perforations in a music sheet.

A. further object is to incorporate in the same unit additional assistance pneumatics for according any selected note or notes of any part of the composition which may be played in a degree lower than fortissi- Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the apparatus will be brought out in the following description.

In the draw1ngs Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved expression device shown as operatively connected to its corresponding ducts of a tracker-bar for automatic action.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged face view of the same apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view 33, Fig. 2.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are face views of the outer, intermediate and inner sections of the valve chest.

Fig. 7 is a diagramatic view of a relatively small number of (in this instance four) lines of expression-controlling perforations in a music sheet arranged in their various combinations (in this instance sixteen) showing the relative size of the resistance pneumatics for each line of perforations of the different combinations thereof as controlled by their corresponding combinations of perforations together with a graphic illustration of the relative degrees of force or air tension produced by such combinations in a player action.

As illustrated this apparatus is made up as a unitary article of manufacture capable of being easily and quickly installed in any of the well known forms of self-playing pianos or other key-board instruments between the wind-inducing device and soundproducing action and comprises a windchest --1-, a valve-chest 2-, and a pneumatic governor 3 for regulating the air tension in said action.

Associated with the tension-governor 3- and valve chest 2- is a series of, in this taken on line instance four (4), resistance pneumatics.

through a valve port 1l in said partition, the upper or low-tension chamber belng connected to the tension-governing pneumatic -3 by a pipe or conduit 15-- extending through the partition 11- and bottom of the wind-chest so as to maintain constant communication between the governor-pneumatic 3 and soundproducing action.

The lower or high-tension chamber -12- is provided in one side with a valved-port -1('3 leading into a gate box having a passage 17 which, in turn, may be connected by a pipe -l8 to any suitable wind-inducing device (not shown).

During the re-roll of amusic sheet, 1t is desirable to cut off communication between the wind-inducing device and sound-producing action and for this purpose I have provided the port --16 with a normally open pneumatic valve or gate -19 which may be connected to any normally closed atmosphere port as 19- adapted to be automatica-lly or voluntarily opened at the proper time for admitting atmospheric air to said pneumatic-valve for closing the same against its seat, it being understood that this pneumatic is normally under partial vacuum through the medium of a suitable bleed-l1ole therein.

The governing pneumatic 3 is rigidly secured by gluing or otherwise to the bottom of the wind-chest and its movable side is provided with a laterally extending arm 20- projecting under and beyond the valve-chest 2 and connected by a retracting spring 21- to a tension-adjusting screw -.22- which in turn is attached to an arm 23- on the top of the valve-chest to distend said governor-pneumatic, the tension of the spring being adjusted so to allow the governor-pneumatic to respond quickly to varying air tensions therein and also to prevent the cl'osingof the valve for the port 14 tightly against its seat.

Coacting with the underside of the port -14L-is a tension-governing valve -:24-.- adjustably secured to a valve-stem 25 which extendsthrough a guide gland 26- in the bottom of the wind-chest and rests looselyon theupper 'faceof the movable side of thegovernor-pneumatic '3 so that any variations in air tension affecting the movement of said pnuematic will produce a cor responding movement of the valve -2 l. to control or govern the air tension in the sound producing action, the chamber -l3 of the wind-chest being connected by a pipe 27- to the sound producing action not shown.

gravity causes it respond easily and i quicklyumder varylng degrees of air ten- "Swhian"theigovernmg(pneumatic -'3-, it

w M under a maxm um degree ol: air tension 1n the Wind=inducing device even when playing with the softest effect. 4

The chamber of the wind-chest may be connected by a pipe -27 to the sound-producing action (not shown) and also serves as a part of the connection between the chamber 1-2- and governee pneumatic --3- for the purposes described.

The resistance neumatics -l --5, 6 and 7- serve a purpose somewhat similar to the resistance pneumatics of my pending application previously referred to in that they are connected to and are adapted to resist the closing action of the main governing pneumatic but vary in are or capacity and may be used in various combinations for producing a wider range of variations of expression, force or tonevolume and are preferably supported in a plane below the main governing pneumatic by hangers'or brackets -28 which are secured to the sides of the wind-chest the movable sides oi" said pneumatics being connet-ted by flexible straps -'2-9- to the adjacont movable sides of the pneiunatic -3- so as to oppose the collapse of the latter with correspondingly varying degrees of force when it is desired to increase the tone volume of any particular note or notes or part of a musical composition as effected by the corresponding perforations of the note sheet.

These resistance pneumatics progressively increase in size or capacity from left to right (Figs. 1 and and are operable individually or in combinations of two or more according to the emphasis which is to be given to selected notes and for this purpose these pneumatics are connected by separate conduits -30 to corresponding valve chambers -3l in which the valves 9- are located, as shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and Each valve chamber is provided with an atmosphere port 32- and a' suction port -33 alined with each other in opposite sides of the valve chamber and between which the valve is adapted to play to al ternately opening and closing said ports The valve chest is also provided with an exhaust chamber *3 l* communicating with all ofthe suction poi'ts 3 and conimon to allot the primary pne'lunatics ---l() which are alined with their respective valve chambers and are adapted to engage the stems of said valves shown in F1335 These prin'i-arypneu ties are} prei :i-ahly 1 H mounted in the front side of the inner plate of the 1l\'6 chest, the backside of said plate being providedavith a series of air ducts 35- communicating with their respective pl'inmfy pneumatics and connected by separate pipes -3( l-- to any suitable means, such as extra ducts in the tracker ba r pr manually operated devices for admitting atmospheric air to any one or more of the primary neumatics according to the degree of force or expression which may be required for any selected note or notes of a musical composition.

Each one of the channels 35- comniunic'atesthro'ug'h a relatively small bleedhole -37 with the exhaust chamber 34- to assure the desired rapidity of act1on of the primary neumatics and corresponding valves.

The accenting pneumatics 8 and 8, as shown, are secured to the lower ends of the hangers or brackets 28 directly under the resistance pneumatics and connected by flexible straps to the governing pneumatics 3 and are also of different size or capacity and capable of being operated individually or collectively for resisting the closing action of said governing pneumatic and thereby accenting with varying degrees of force any note or notes of a musical composition while playing in any degree of expression below fortissimo (ff) effects, thus producing three degrees of added force to that with which an accompaniment or other part. is being played at the same time.

These resistance pneumatics are preferably operated automatically through the medium of extra ducts 38 in a tracker bar a, having the usual note ducts -o the ducts 38 being controlled by extra perforations in a music sheet similar to that set forth in my pending application Serial No. 7 80,349 filed July 21, 1913, but it is evident that they may be operated voluntarily by suitable manually controlled The exhaust chamber -34 communicates with the chamber 12 of the wind chest through a passage -34', as shown more clearly in Fig. 3.

In F ig. 7. of the drawings I have shown a portion of a music sheet 40- having in" addition to its note perforations a relatively small number of (in this instance four) lines of perforations b-, c, --(ll, and e arranged side by side in close relation, parallel. with each other and with theline of travel of the sheet and representing different degrees of expression. or force with which certain notes corresponding to the note perforations which they control are to be played, the blank spaces in line with said perforations representing a different or normally lower degree of force than any of the perforations which, in this instance, indicate gradually increasing degrees of force from left to right.

Each line of perforations is adapted to control one of a series, in this instance four, resistance pneumatics, 4, 5, 6 and 7 indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 7 as associated with their controlling perforations -b, 'c, d and e in the music sheet so as to show a relatively large number of variations in the degree of force with which the selected parts of a musical composition may be played.

In order that this feature of my invention. may be clearly understood I have shown the perforations arranged and combined so as to produce sixteen (16) degrees of force and progressively increasing from top to bottom and have also shown each perforation or combination of perforations, and the different resistance pneumatics or combinations thereof which are brought into action simultaneously with the registration of such perforations or combinations with their respective tracker ducts 38- in the tracker bars a While the relative degrees of force resulting from the use of the individual perforations and corresponding resistance pneumatics or the several combinations thereof are indicated by lines -X arranged in a column at the extreme right of the sheet opposite said perforations and correspondingpneumatics and combinations thereof.

The diagran'i, how ever, is only used to show more clearly the wide range of variations of air tension which may be produced in the player action through the medium of a relatively small number of resistance pneumatics and it is evident that in actual practice the perforations b, c, -d and -c will be arranged in the sheet to effect the desired expression of any selected part of the musical composition during the operation. of playing as shown, for example, in my pending application Serial No. 780.349 previously referred to.-

It must be remembered. however, that when no perforation is present in any of the lines b, -0, dor --e-, the musical selection ill be played with the softest expression as controlled by the tenslon-regulating pneumatic -#8- but, if it is desired to mcrease the force or express on,

the sheet is provided with one or more of such perforations arranged in such relation to the note or'notes to be effected as to produce the desired effect of such note or notes at the proper time.

By connecting the movable sides of the accent pneumatics 8 and -8 to the main governing pneumatic 3- through the medium of the flexible straps, it is evident that they may be brought into ac tion either individually or collectively to produce added resistance to the closing action of said governing pneumatic and its valve 24: so as to "give added force to any one of the resistance pneumatics i-, 5, 6 or -7 which may be in action or to the accompaniment or a melody which may be played under 'a predetermined force as determined by the resistance pneumatics.

' Heretoiore, so far as I am aware, when an accent was required, it has been produced by suddenly throwing the'full force of the air tension from the wind-inducing device into the sound producing .action but in the device forming the subject matter of this application, this accent may be graded by bringing into action one' or the other or both of the accenting ,pneumatics S- and 8 which it will be seen are of different sizes or capacities and are capable of producing three grades of force withbut two perforations in the tracker bar and two lines of accent perforations in the music sheet.

This graded accent is accomplished by connecting the accenting pneumatics to the main governing-pneumatic and'permits the entire expression governing device including the pneumatics to :be embodied in a single unit capable of being'installed in a relatively small space in any self-playing musical instrument and, in addition to the several advantages which I have previously' pointed out, it enables the connections between the expression-controlling unit and tracker bar to be very much simplified in that it permits of a wide range of variations in expression and accent with the use ofa relatively small number of extra ducts in the tracker bar, the tracker ducts for the resistance pneumatics for controlling the various degrees of force'usedfor the accompaniment being elongated in the direction of travel of the sheet to cover two' or'more of theexpressioir control-ling perforations in each line while the tracker ducts for the accent pneumatics are relatively short so as to embrace single perforations and produce the'acceidt wheredesired.

-What I claim is:

Ll-n a self piayin g musical instri meht,

tone-modifying means comprising a high tension chamber and a low tension chamber for communication, respectively with a wind-inducing device and a sound-producing action, said chambers having a connecting passage, a self-opening valve for said passage at the high tension side thereof, a penumatic in open communication with the low-tension chamber only for partially closing said valve, pneumatic resisters for opposingthe closing action of the first-named pneumatic, and means for selectively placing said resisters in communication with the high tension chamber.

2. Ina self-playing musical instrument, tone-modifying means comprising a high tension chamber and a low tension chamher having separate ports for connection, respectively, with a wind-inducing device and a sound-producing action, said chamber having a connecting passage, a selfopening valve for said passage opening into the high tension chamber, a pneumatic communicating with the low-tension chamber for partially closing the valve, pneumatic resistersopposing the closing'action of the first-named pneumatic, and means for selectively placing said resisters in communication with thehigh-tension chamber.

3. In a self-playing musical instrument, tone-modifying means comprising a hightension chamber and a low-tension chamber having separate ports for communication, respectively, with a wind-inducing device and' a sound-producing action, said chambers having a connecting passage, a valve for saidpassage opening into the high tension chamber, a pneumatic communicating through a separate passage with the lowtension chamber for: partially closing said valve, pneumatic resisters opposing the closing action of the first-named pneumatic, means for selectively placing said resisters in communication with the high-tension chamber, and separate means for opening and closing the high-tension port. 7

4:. In a self-playing musical instrument, tone-modifying means comprising a hightension chamber and a low-tension chamber having ports for communication, respectively, with a wind-inducing device and a sound-producing action, said chambers having a connecting passage, a self-opening valve coiiperating with thehigh-tension side of said passage, a pneumatic communicating with the low tension chamber only for partially closing said valve, pneumatic resisters opposing the closing action of the firstnamed pneumatic, means for selectively placing saidresisters 1n 'coinmunlcatlon with the h1gh-tens1on chamber, and separate pneumatic means for opening and closing the ,high-tension portj ,5 In aselfiplaying musical instrument wind chest having Misti-terrains ei port for communication with a wind-inducing device and a pneumatically operated gate in the gate box for closing communication between the last named port and high tension chamber.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of June, 1913.

LEWIS B. DOMAN. Witnesses:

H. E. CHASE, EVA E. GREENLEAF.

Copies of this patent Ill, be obtained for five cent: each, by addressing the "commissioner of Patente. Washington, D. 0." 

